We touched down just outside the contamination zone near Elysium and I could already see an army of Corrupted behemoths, serpents, deathwings, and even a few titans.
"He really needs to get new ideas for soldiers. I'm tired of fighting the same things over and over," I said.
"I agree...but these things aren't even a threat, anymore," Isabella said.
More of the creatures began manifesting as the two of us stepped forward.
Aldaril, Vakra, and the Enforcers were on their way here. For now, we planned to utterly annihilate these horrors ourselves.
"Remember when we stood on the walls outside of the dwarven city, Isabella?" I said.
"Of course! You were so romantic that day. Just thinking about it makes me blush!" Isabella said with a smile.
"Yeah...and I wish I still could be. But I was terrified that day. I truly believed we would die," I said.
"I felt the same. But now, they look like little more than ants, don't they?"
"They do. Calling them ants would be generous, though," I said.
I readied Vengeance and felt its power rising in my hands.
I changed its form into two bladed shotguns and Isabella manifested her shield and armor.
"Keep their attention. Protect my back. I'll kill them all," I said.
"Consider it done. And then we can celebrate once the battle is over. It should be fun~!" Isabella said with a wink and a sly smile.
"Looking forward to it," I said.
I looked at the approaching army of Corrupted soldiers and stepped stepped closer.
Multiple seven-headed dragons began rising out of the ground.
"This time...we're not defending. We're going on the offensive!" I said.
And then it began.
Some of the horrors roared at us and Isabella raised her sword.
I was cloaked in a barrier connected by a stream of light to her sword.
I felt my power increase exponentially and raised my weapon.
"Flames of rage," I said.
My shotguns were cloaked in emerald flames and I put my fingers on the triggers.
"All of the pain and suffering you bastards have caused me. TAKE MY ANGER AND BURN IN HELL!!!!" I shouted angrily.
I pulled the triggers and engulfed them all in emerald flames.
At the same time, Isabella swung her sword several times creating streams of light that flew into the survivors and violently exploded.
We both charged into the crowd and I switched my shotgun into swords.
"Sword enchant!" I said.
My blades glowed with a dim light beneath the flames.
"Shield enchant!" Isabella said. Her shield glowed with a blinding and brilliant light.
She tapped her shield with her sword and it also began to glow brightly.
As a Corrupted dragon lunged at me, she came to my side and blocked the attack with ease. Her shield flashed and exploded into light that obliterated the dragon and many other creatures at the same time.
Then I activated lethal strikes and increased my speed with magic. I rapidly flew through the battlefield slicing everything in my path to pieces. I created exploding magic chains and spears that shot from the ground and rained from the sky all around me.
Everywhere I moved became a carnival of destruction.
The purified divine energy I had weaved into my attacks was just enough to kill every Corrupted horror I touched. And every time something attacked me, Isabella appeared with her shield raised.
Her support magic kept my power rising even higher. And her light magic destroyed even the contamination zone, itself.
Finally, a humanoid figure strode towards us.
"You meddlesome children... You dare stand against The Dark Army?" She said.
She wore a mask, but I could already tell it wasn't Akari.
I immediately assumed she was a General and prepared for a slightly more difficult fight.
She had a sword at her side. It appeared to be a Gladius of some sort...
[That is Faith. It has been twisted like the others...and it is also just as dangerous. It's forms are: Form Two: Faithful Weapon, and Form Three: Manifestation. Be careful and slay the false wielder.]
Consider it done.
"I am-"
"Don't care," I said immediately, cutting her off.
She paused for a moment..seeming to not fully comprehend.
"You're quite rude..." She said.
"Isn't it more rude to show up in someone's world and destroy it for no reason? I don't care what your name is because you'll be dead in a few minutes," I said.
"Ha! With my sword, Ignorance, you'll see just how weak you truly-"
"Assassinate," I said.
I teleported behind her and slashed through her body multiple times.
She crumbled to dust without a single word.
"That was a lot easier than the last one... What was his name again?" I asked.
"I think it was...Roger or something? I can't remember... But I wasn't supporting you last time. Although I'm sure if you fought seriously, you could have ended it just as quickly," Isabella said.
"Probably..." I said. I leaned over and picked up the dust-covered gladius that was never unsheathed.
[Excellent. This blade, like the others, must be purified and reforged. You lack the ability to do so. As such, it will have to be taken to the Artificer.]
The what?
[He is our creator. You will need him later. For now, continue your work to collect the rest of us...]
Vengeance's strange way of ordering me around aside, I was now in a pretty good mood. The contamination zone began to slowly disperse as the remaining abominations all crumbled to dust with it.
"Oh! Is that the sword she dropped? She called it...Ignorance?" Isabella said as she approached me.
"Yeah. Vengeance called it Faith."
Then I looked at Isabella as she leaned close and stared at the sword.
"Hm? Do I have something on my face?" She said.
"Can you...purify this thing?" I asked.
"It's worth a shot. Let's see..."
I handed her the sword and she surrounded it with light magic.
Then she frowned.
"It's not Corrupted... Does that make sense? There's nothing to purify..." She said.
How is that even possible?
"Are you sure...?"
"Definitely. This sword is, without a doubt, Faith. But it isn't Corrupted. It's more like someone took Faith and physically changed it into a different weapon," Isabella said.
"Difar mentioned reforging the swords... Hey, Cassandra. Come out for a sec," I said.
"Yes, my darling?" Cassandra said with eyes full of desire.
"Show me your dagger," I said.
"You got my hopes up for a moment... Oh well... I'll show you anything you want!" She said.
"Stop making it weird."
She simply smiled and presented Deception.
"Have you tried to purify this thing?" I asked.
"Hmm...absolutely not. That would be a terrible idea. And it wouldn't work, anyway," Cassandra said.
"Why? Tell me everything."
"Of course! It's still Intelligence, but the magical...thingy...that makes it Intelligence was sealed. Then the physical form was warped. It's been reforged. Also...even if I did manage to change it back, I might be without a weapon. Corrupted magic swords can technically be used by anyone. The brand Difar put on my hand was to allow me to call it back if I lost it. And even if they're Corrupted, they aren't at full power. But if I changed it back, Intelligence might decide that it doesn't think I'm worthy."
"So I could use Ignorance if I wanted?" I asked.
Cassandra nodded.
"I wouldn't recommend it. Vengeance is probably much stronger, anyway. And much more suitable for someone with such an amazing aura of strength and...sexiness...haaah... The only man worthy of holding the Overseer sword! Mizik is such a fitting wielder!" Cassandra said as she started breathing harder.
"Down, girl. So have you heard of someone called 'The Artificer'? Vengeance mentioned him," I said.
Cassandra straightened up and smiled with her hands together in front of her.
"I have heard the name mentioned by Difar. But I know nothing about him. You might know more than I do if Vengeance mentioned it," she said.
"One last question... When you came to, did you see Difar reforge the weapons?" I asked.
"No. Difar had already made them like this by the time I woke up. It's possible that Arvild or Tyranus might have seen, but...Tyranus is dead and Arvild isn't likely to say anything...wherever he is..."
"Alright. I was just curious, anyway. It's not overly important right now," I said.
"I'm sorry I couldn't tell you more, my darling! I just want to give you the world..."
"You've done enough. Good job. Now let me talk to Isabella," I said.
Isabella came back and seemed somewhat bothered.
"You did amazing work on the field next to me, just like always. Thank you for making things so much easier," I said.
Isabella cheered up and hugged me tightly. She rested her head against my chest and sighed happily.
"I want compliments too, Mizik... You always tell Cassandra how good she's doing... I know you're just motivating her, but still!"
"I'll tell you as many times as you want to hear it then. You're invaluable to me both on and off of the field. I wouldn't have made it anywhere close to this far without your help. Thank you," I said.
"And if not for you, I would have died on Avernia. No matter what happens, I'm grateful to you. I owe you my life."
Moments later, a small dropship appeared and hovered low in the air above us.
The Enforcers, Vakra, and Aldaril all descended from it.
"You've already dispersed the zone? What happened? Tell me," Vakra said.
I just rolled my eyes.
I was having a moment with Isabella, you jerk. Whatever...we have plenty of time for that later...
"We killed a bunch of monsters and another General appeared. With Isabella's help, I was able to slay her in one strike," I said.
"Impressive. So you can kill Generals instantly now... Anything else?" Vakra said.
"Eh...she dropped a sword? It's one of the magic swords from Avernia. Vengeance says I need the Artificer to cleanse it. Do you know about that, Vakra?" I said.
"About the Artificer? Or the swords?"
"The Artificer, of course. Why the hell would I expect you to know about the swords?"
"I don't know. Why do you think I know about the Artificer!?" Vakra said angrily.
"Hm...fair point," I said.
"But, honestly. What did Vengeance say?"
"That the Artificer created the swords."
"Well, now we know why he's called THE ARTIFICER, DON'T WE!? DOESN'T THAT SAY ENOUGH!?" Vakra shouted.
"What's gotten into you? Why are you so angry?" I asked.
"I hate stupid and pointless questions. That's what."
"Is it pointless to ask if you've located Cain, yet?" I asked.
"No. But you're also assuming that I wouldn't just tell you as soon as it happens. Be patient!" Vakra said.
"Excuse me, Vakra, but I would appreciate it if you could stop talking to Mizik that way," Isabella said angrily.
"My apologies, Madam. Your husband is a moron," Vakra said plainly.
Then Isabella punched him straight in the chest and launched him thirty feet backward.
"I've wanted to do that for a really long time..." She said angrily.
I gently patted her back and she smiled at me.
"I hate it when people insult my beloved Mizik," Isabella said.
A moment later, Vakra manifested in a warped field of energy right where he had been standing before. He dusted himself off and looked at Isabella.
"Yeah...not worth the effort. That really hurt, so I'm sorry," he said.
I couldn't see his face through the mask, but I assumed he was in his skeletal form based on his voice.
It was honestly hard to tell without that detail... He didn't show any skin and his mask was more like a helmet connected to a bodysuit underneath his clothes. His movements were only somewhat stiff and he had a harness as well to keep them in place after transforming.
So that they wouldn't fall off if he changed.
"Note to self...don't tempt the lioness... That's probably a few broken ribs..." Vakra mumbled as he tapped his chest and looked down his own shirt.
"Umm...Vakra?" I said.
"Hm? Oh. Yes... Let's go back now. I need to examine myself and we should probably prepare for the upcoming battles. That's the third General since they came here, right? There may be more..." He said.
We boarded the Astrum and went back to the lab.